Mackinaw City and Whitefish Point...

In the middle of last month, we made the trip up north to Mackinaw City. Here, we stayed in a hotel for two nights and explored the surrounding area - including seeing a couple of impressive lighthouses and a number of lovely beaches. 

We even drove across the Mackinac Bridge and entered the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for the first time. From here we headed north to Lake Superior's shores. Here we visited Whitefish Point, the location of the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum. This spot is particularly poignant as it is not too far from here that the Edmund Fitzgerald foundered with all hands in November 1975. 

What made our trip extra special was someone leaving a note on our windscreen as we were parked at Whitefish Point. It made us curious about these kind strangers. We've prayed for them in the days since, too. :)

Family selfie with the Mackinac Bridge in the distance.

McGulpin Point Light.

McGulpin Rock, used as a navigational aid by explorers in the 1600s.

Walking along the beach at McGulpin Point.

The Old Mackinac Point Lighthouse - guarding the Straits of Mackinac.

Fish and Chips for supper. Yum!

Eliza and Riaan posing on these cute carved wooden bears.

Crossing the Mackinac Bridge...

And entering the Upper Peninsula!

Beautiful pine trees along the side of the road.

Whitefish Point Light Station...

And the Great Lakes Shipwreck Museum!

Displays inside the museum...

Including the bell of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

The family enjoying the shipwreck displays and nautical artifacts. 

Scale model of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

USCG Cutter in the shed that is now used for presentations.

A replica of a smaller USCG Cutter - once based at Whitefish Point.

Memorial to the Edmund Fitzgerald near the beach.

Point Iroquois Light, about an hour to the east of Whitefish Point.

Lovely pebbly beach.

Exploring a tea shop in Mackinaw City.

Viking Polaris, a new cruise ship passing through the Straits.

USCGC Mackinac, a former Great Lakes icebreaker and now a maritime museum.

Another view of the Mackinac as dense fog rolls in, obscuring the Mackinac Bridge to the right.

A scenic little park where we wrote some postcards for family and friends. :)